Liner bag nozzle retainer

Abstract

A liner bag nozzle retainer including a support means with a nozzle receiving aperture ( 10 ) and a pair of partly overlapping shutters mounted on the support through track means ( 26 ) in the shutters ( 25 ) engaged with track followers ( 27 ) fixed to the support. The track means ( 26 ) allows the shutters to move towards and away from each other. An edge cut out ( 29, 30 ) on each shutter. Movement of the shutters ( 25 ) results in the cut outs combining to form a notch sized to allow free movement of a bag nozzle through the support aperture or retain nozzles of different sizes projecting through the aperture. Shutter securement means ( 28 ) is provided to maintain the shutters ( 25 ) in selected positions.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A liner bag nozzle retainer including a support means with a nozzle receiving aperture through the support means, a pair of shutters with a portion of an outer shutter adjacent a side edge thereof overlying a portion of an inner shutter adjacent a side edge thereof, each shutter includes a cut-out in its side edge, the cut-outs combine to form a notch to engage a liner bag nozzle when extending through said aperture, a track in each shutter, a track follower for each track fixed to the support means, the tracks each include a first part with the first parts converging towards bottom edges of the shutters, said first track parts having a length such that when said first parts are moved relative to the track followers said shutters either move towards each other with a reduction in the size of said notch and a downward movement of the shutters to partly occlude said aperture or away from each other with an enlargement of said notch and an upward movement of said shutters so there is no occlusion of said aperture, and securing means to secure the tracks of said shutters in selected positions relative to said track followers. 
     
     
       2. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  wherein the tracks include aligned second parts, movement of said second track parts relative to the track followers result in said shutters moving directly towards or away from each other with no upward or downward movement, the movement towards each other is from a position where there is no occlusion of said aperture to a position where said aperture is totally occluded. 
     
     
       3. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  where the securing means is a clamp member threaded onto each track follower to be tightened against sid shutters to prevent them from moving relative to said track followers. 
     
     
       4. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  where the securing means is a member slidably mounted on each track follower and so as to be engagable with and disengagable from enlargements in said tracks. 
     
     
       5. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  where the overlying portions of the inner and outer shutters are retained in close relationship by a guide member fixed to the support means and overlying the outer shutter. 
     
     
       6. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  including a receiver fixed to said support means and positioned to receive and hold portions of the shutters adjacent the bottom edges of the shutters when the shutters are in the aperture occluding position. 
     
     
       7. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  including a cover hinged to the support means and movable between a position where is covers said aperture and a position where it is retained in an aperture uncovering position. 
     
     
       8. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  7  including cover locators fixed one to each shutter, said locators including notches to accept side flanges of said cover when said shutters are in each of said selected positions. 
     
     
       9. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  7  including a locking means to lock said cover in said aperture covering position. 
     
     
       10. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  where the support means is a side panel of a container. 
     
     
       11. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  where the support means is part of the base of a container. 
     
     
       12. A liner bag nozzle retainer as claimed in claim  1  where the support means is a plinth upstanding from the base of a container.